Volkswagen Golf GTI: Which of the Seven Generations Is the Best?

Update 12/29/17: This story was originally published 5/3/16, but the original video was taken down. We've since updated the story with new video links.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI has been with us for 40 years and seven generations, modernizing with the times, but (mostly) staying true to its original mission of being uncompromisingly fun and practical. It's inarguably an icon, but of the seven iterations built, which is the best?

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That's what Carfection sought to find out in its latest video series, which features seven excellent examples of the GTI all together on track. With the exception of the heavy, slow Mk. III and the heavy, if fast Mk. IV, each version is a peach.

I won't give away which is picked as the best of the breed, but the Mk. II and Mk. V are found to be surprising highlights. If you skip the third and fourth-generation, you can't go wrong.

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